High Nature Value Forests

in the Carpathians

Harald Egerer,

Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention

Meeting of the EU Nature and Biodiversity

Directors, Tále, Slovakia ,10-12 October 2016

The Carpathians

Europe's largest range of mountains,

extending over 200,000 km2

Providing essential ecosystem

services to communities in seven

countries (CZ,HU,PL,RO,RS,SK,UA)

and beyond

Recreational environment and living

area of more than 20 million people in

the heart of Europe

Macro-region of high social and

economic importance and

development

The Carpathian mountains

Close to 100,000 km2 of natural or semi/natural forests

36,000 km2 of protected areas

3,000 km2 of virgin forests

481 endemic plant species

Major source of freshwater. The majority of the Carpathian

region is part of three river basins: the basins of Danube,

Dniester and Vistula

Stronghold of the largest carnivore population in Europe

Most of Europe’s remaining intact rivers and wetlands

Central Europe’s last wilderness area

Carpathian forests

The Carpathian Mountains constitute one of the largest remaining

continuous forest ecosystems in Europe (Gurung et al. 2009)

Harbor most of Europe’s remaining temperate primary forests

(Grodzinska et al. 2004; Kuemmerle et al. 2010)

Primary forest ecosystems play a key role as biodiversity refuges

Important for the Carbon storage (Keeton in prep.)

Outstanding conservation, ecological, scientific and cultural value

Virgin forest in the Carpathian region

(University of Padova, Report on

Current State of Forest Resources

in the Carpathians, Carpathian Project, 2008)

Carpathians are the most important

mountains for conservation of

primary forests of the European

Beech (Fagus sylvatica), which is of

global natural heritage.

Rocky pine (Pinus cembra) trees

can reach more than 1000 years

in the Carpathians - Koprova

dolina – High Tatra Mts.

Dead wood provides habitat for

many endangered species

Natural disturbances are part of the

natural dynamics of the primary

forests in the Carpathians – Kotlov

žľab- Western carpathians

Recent dendrochronological studies showed, that high severity natural disturbances (eg.

barkbeetle, windthrow) are part of the natural disturbance regime of the primary forests in the

Carpathians

(Janda et al. 2016, Forest Ecology and Management)

- Period of high severity disturbances in the

years 1850 -1880

Natural disturbances are part of the

natural dynamics of the primary

forests in the Carpathians

Biggest threat is building of new roads and

consequent logging

Biggest threat is building of new roads and

subsequent logging - Ucea Mare, N2k site

Fagaras Mountains

Increased access results in large scale

logging (Fagaras Mts.)

More than 100 ha large clearcut - Urea

Mare valley, Natura 2000 site Fagaras

Mountains

Buildling of new roads

Many of the new forest

roads are also supported

by EU funds

Valley in Fagaras

Buffer zone and close vicinity of the

proposed UNESCO World Heritage Area in

Sinca, N2k site Fagaras Mountains.

Sincasoara river, proposed UNESCO World

Heritage Area in Sinca, N2k site Fagaras

Mountains.

Salvage logging in National park

Low Tatra Mts. – Velky Bok

(www.pralesy.sk)

Challenges to protect Carpathian Primary

Forests

• Primary forests are identified but they are not protected (in one

country 30 % of the primary forests are not protected despite of their

clear identification)

• Primary forests should be protected according to the law, but they are

not properly identified yet and therefore de facto are not protected (in

another country)

Slovakia

• Very precise database of primary forests (www.pralesy.sk)

• total area of primary forests 10491 ha (0,48% of all forest of Slovakia

and only 0,21% from the whole Slovakia)

• 30 % of the identified areas are not yet under protection

Romania

• Primary forests should be protected by the Ministerial Order No. 3397

• A complex map of primary forests is not yet finished

• So it may not be clear how many and where are the primary forests

situated

• Great successes in improving forest management and fighting against

illegal logging

• But work still in progress ….

Virgin & natural forests in Romania

Map of virgin forests in Romania

according with the 2002-2004 inventory

Carpathian natural forests and connectivity

• Natural and old-growth forests = habitat for many

endangered and threatened species

• High connectivity at the landscape scale is crucial for the

long-term survival of species of conservation concern

• Primary forests are too small, to sustain habitat

connectivity required for biodiversity it is necessary to

focus conservation also on secondary old-growth and

natural forests

Capercaillie – umbrella species of mountain

forest biodiversity

• Typical old-growth forest species in the Carpathians (Saniga et al. 2003 ) that is well known to wide audience of citizens ranking this species among the flagship species to promote conservation of ecosystems and biodiversity

• Experienced significant habitat loss due to large scale logging in the Carpathians

• Loss of habitat by 15 % eroded the connectivity by 30 %, population became fragmented what resulted in extinction and decline of this species in Special Protected Areas designed by NATURA 2000 (Mikoláš et al. 2016, Landscape Ecol.)

Mikoláš et al. 2016, Landscape Ecol.

Maramures NP

National park Muranska

Planina – former habitat of

capercaillie

2007 2014

Loss of capercaillie habitat in the national park Low Tatra Mts. (B)

Mikoláš et al. 2016, Landscape Ecol.

Capercaillie suitable habitat (km2)

Loss of capercaillie suitable habitat

(km2)

PAs SPAs Unprotected Total PAs SPAs Unprotected Total

Czech

Republic

9 9 0 9 1 1 0 1

Hungary 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Poland 305 97 32 350 33 10 4 39

Romania 1,142 1,469 1,964 3,720 233 273 260 565

Slovakia 1,483 1,380 133 1,797 256 211 18 325

Ukraine 498 NA 1135 1,633 48 NA 131 180

Total 2,939 1,71

3

2,129 7,510 571 495 413 1,109

Needs to be done

• Nature NGOs and scientists call for immediate and comprehensive

moratorium on logging in all primary and potential primary forests

• Finish the inventory of primary forests where necessary

• Identified primary forests have to be protected

• Prepare an inventory of secondary old-growth and natural forests and

protect them to maintain habitats and high connectivity for biodiversity

• Increase international attention, promoting monitoring and innovative

approaches such as remote sensing, protection in sufficient size and

number, exchange of good practice for forest management in protected

areas Carpathian Convention

The Carpathian Convention - framework convention

for transnational issues

• Adopted on 22nd May 2003

• Entered in force on 4th January 2006

• Ratified by all the seven Carpathian countries

• A framework Convention for cooperation and multi-sectoral policy coordination

• Only existing legally binding framework

and active stakeholder platform in the

region as well as project factory

Goal: Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development of the Carpathian Region

WG on Sustainable

Forests Management

Conference of the Parties

Carpathian Convention Implementation Committee

CCIC

WG Sustainable Agriculture and Rural

Development

WG Biodiversity

WG Sustainable

Tourism

WG Sustainable

Transport and Infrastructure

WG Spatial Development

WG on Adaptation to

Climate Change

The Convention as an Institution

SecretariatPresidency

Protocol on Sustainable Forest Management entered into force

Picture: M. Verghelet_.

Strategic Action Plan for the Implementation of the Protocol on Sustainable Forest Management finalized

Criteria and indicators for selection of virgin forests in transboudary region developed

Close cooperation with European Environment Agency

The work of the Carpathian Convention on Forests

Article 7 of the Carpathian Convention

Criteria and Indicators for identification of primary forests in

the Carpathians

Towards the Inventory of Carpathian Primary Forests

Cooperation with the European EnvironmentAgency

Possible action at EU level

• EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy - Sustainable Forestry

• Integration of biodiversity conservation and restoration

into forest management plans

• Natura 2000

What can the European Comission do to

support high nature value forest conservation in

the Carpathians?

• Define the targets for the conservation of European

Wilderness

• Implement legislative tools for conservation of

European Wilderness

Thank you for your attention!

Carpathian Convention

UNEP Vienna

www.carpathianconvention.org

www.unep.org/roe